Padres' Cashner struggles in loss to Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Wily Peralta throws to San Diego Padres' Will Venable during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2014, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

The Associated Press

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Wily Peralta throws to San Diego Padres' Will Venable during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2014, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Wily Peralta throws to San Diego Padres' Will Venable during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 21, 2014, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (The Associated Press)

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Andrew Cashner did as much as he could to keep the Padres close. Without good control of his go-to pitch he had little success.

Cashner (2-2) gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings for the Padres as San Diego was beaten by the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 Monday night.

The four runs scored against Cashner was the first time he had given up more than two earned runs in his last 11 starts. It was the second longest streak in the major leagues behind only Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke, who has gone 15 starts without giving up more than two earned runs.

"They have a good-hitting team over there," Cashner said. "I didn't execute well with my sinker tonight. I was up with it quite a bit tonight. I just didn't have my best stuff, but I tried to keep us in the game."

Padres manager Bud Black said Cashner missed his location on his fastball.

"Some balls were intended to go to the glove and they missed out over the plate. Simple as that," Black said. "His stuff was fine. Delivery was Cash-like. He just missed with some pitches out over the plate."

The Padres' hitters could not help Cashner as they were just 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

"It's frustrating for the guys," Black said. "We're just not getting that big hit. We need to square up some pitches that are hittable when we have guys on base. When you see that, you'll see the run production increase and the game change in our favor."

Wily Peralta (3-0) gave up three runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings as the Brewers won for the fourth straight time and improved their major league-best record to 15-5. Peralta stuck out six.

Will Smith pitched out of a base-loaded jam in the seventh inning. Tyler Thornberg worked a scoreless eighth and Francisco Rodriguez finished for his eighth save this season and 312th of his career, good for 19th on the career list.

It was Rodriguez's fourth straight save in as many days. Rodriguez said he would tell Brewers manager Ron Roenicke that he would be ready to take day off on Thursday when the Brewers are not scheduled to play.

"I feel that I get better the more I throw," said Rodriguez, who has converted all eight save opportunities so far this season and has not allowed a run in 11 appearances. "This is not new for me. I have had a big workload my whole career."

Peralta helped his own cause in the third inning. He led off with a double and scored on Scooter Gennett's triple. Braun drove a ball to the wall in right-center where it was caught by Will Venable, but Gennett scored easily.

Ramirez followed with his third home run of the season to give Milwaukee a 3-0 lead.

Chris Denorfia then grounded to shortstop Jean Segura, who threw to Gennett to force Alonso. But Gennett's throw to first hit a sliding Alonso in the elbow and the ball rolled into right field allowing Headley to score.

Braun's RBI single in the fifth inning scored Gomez, who led off the inning with a double, and increased Milwaukee's lead to 4-2.

Denorfia's first home run of the season in the seventh inning trimmed Milwaukee's lead to a run. Nick Hundley then doubled and Tommy Medica reached on an error to chase Peralta.

Smith replaced Peralta and walked Xavier Nady. But he got Seth Smith to fly out and struck out Headley to get out of the inning.

NOTES: Brewers LF Khris Davis, who hit the game-winning home run Sunday against Pittsburgh, was a late scratch due to the stomach flu. He was replaced in the starting lineup by OF Elian Herrera. ... Black said OF Cameron Maybin, who ruptured his left biceps March 2, could be reinstated and added to the Padres' 25-man roster during San Diego's current 10-game road trip. ... Milwaukee will start Yvoni Gallardo (2-0) in the second game of the series Tuesday, while the Padres will counter with Ian Kennedy (1-3).